[RallySportDirect]

Shortly after getting our 2008 STi it was apparent that the stock shifter must go.
And this is KartBoy cames in
After taking the stock shifter out, it was apparent that Subaru did a slight change of design, and used a different sized barrel. After getting in contact with TIC we had some new STi 6speed pivot bushings.

The interior is a little bit more complicated to take apart over the previous GD, however its nothing that cant be done.


Parts You will need:
KartBoy 6 Speed Shifter
TIC 6spd Pivot Bushing
Lithium Grease

Tool you will need.
10mm Socket
12MM Open end wrench,
12mm socket
Flat head screw driver
3/32 Punch
Rubber hose(to hold the reverse lockout toggle under the car, in the up position)
Hammer
Rag
Pliers to cut zip ties.
Jack, and jack stands.


1) Remove the 2 bolts that are in the arm rest that are bolting down the arm rest to the chassis.


2) Pop up the Ebrake boot to gain access to a bolt under it. Be careful as not to damage the leather and the plastic.


3) On the under side of the center dash piece, between the seat and the carpet there are some hidden clips that you will need to pull over the tabs that are on the plastic. There are 2 of these clips. One if the front and one in the back part of the leather boot.




4) Remove the bolt that is under the Leather E brake boot, and pull the armrest portion BACK. DO NOT LIFT AS YOU WILL BREAK THIS LITTLE WHITE CLIP.


5)Then grab the tray and the shift boot portion and pull it straight back as well. However BE VERY CAREFUL, as there are small finger that hold the whole assembly to the lower part of the dash.


6) After you get it off this is what you will see. Just take out the 2 plastic white nuts that hold the rubber boot over the bottom of shifter.


7) Take off the Zip tie that is on top of the shifter holding the reverse lockout cable.
Then take out the bolt that holds the shifter barrel to the U shifter rod.
Then prosed remove the C clip.


8) Get under the car and have your friend pull on the Reverse lockout.
Jack up the car and put it on jack stands.
Clime under and follow the reverse lockout cable from the shifter all the way to the transmission. As your friend is pulling on the lockout you will notice that there is a little arm moving on the tranny. Put a rubber hose between the arm and the tranny to keep it in the pull up position.

9) After you get the lever arm on the tranny in the up position, proceed to knock the reverse lockout pin out of the shifter.
Careful as the reverse lever on the shifter is spring loaded. Its weak spring tension, however make sure you dont loose any of the parts.




10) After the pin is out and the C clip is pulled out, proceed to pull the shifter out of the cup. There will be 2 rubber O rings. Make sure you don't loose or damage them.
This is what the bottom of the shifter looks like after you get it out.


11) Take out these 2 little screws and the piece that they hold will slide off.


12) OEM next to a Kartboy
Your 1/2 Way there!


13) Transfer all the parts onto the KartBoy Shifter.
NOTE: YOU WILL NEED TO USE THE TIC 6spd Pivot Bushing. As the OEM ones will not fit into the KartBoy barrel(Thanks Subaru for the design Change).
Place a little grease back into the cup that holds the bottom of the shifter.




Then prosed to do everything backwards.
You will also need to use a second zip tie to tie up the Reverse lockout cable away from the drive shaft.

Now clean up and enjoy your new KartBoy Short Shifter.




Kirill
RallySportDirect.com

[flytojungho]

awesome

[Subw00er]

Can you comment on feel at all? How would you characterize the difference in shift effort, throw, longer reach to the shifter, etc..

[RallySportDirect]

Shifting is much more accurate. We installed the Shifter bushings at the same time, however the short shifter is vary noticeable.
Shifting effort increased slightly, however the feel is much more enhanced. Where the stock shifter would slop into gear, this is more of a BMW/Porsche feel as it will slide int to gear with a very positive feel.
Overall its very rewarding, and much more enjoyable to drive!

Kirill
RallySportDirect.com

[Edvig]

Thank you for this write up. It was a tremendous help today.

I installed the KB SS in my 08 STI today. The shifts are much shorter and crispier now. I had the KB set up in my bugeye REX and I was used to the shorter height of the KB SS. The OE shifter felt like I was driving a truck.

We had one problem today. We had trouble getting the shifter out if the cup. The grease in the cup created a really, really, really strong suction condition and it was hard puling the shifter out.

[Subw00er]

Originally Posted by Edvig

We had trouble getting the shifter out if the cup. The grease in the cup created a really, really, really strong suction condition and it was hard puling the shifter out.

Did you just pull like hell to get it out, or is there a trick?!

[Area1320]

once the c-clip is out of the cup, turn the shifter around and pop it down. It should pop right out

[Edvig]

Originally Posted by Subw00er

Did you just pull like hell to get it out, or is there a trick?!

We just yanked real hard.

[RallySportDirect]

Originally Posted by Edvig

Thank you for this write up. It was a tremendous help today.

The OE shifter felt like I was driving a truck.

We had one problem today. We had trouble getting the shifter out if the cup. The grease in the cup created a really, really, really strong suction condition and it was hard puling the shifter out.

Glad this helped.

And yes the stock one is like a truck. I had a chance to check out a stock one again, in another 08. And I was still amazed on how much better the KB was over the OEM.

As for the bottom cup. We had a similar issues. But once the C clip is taken out, there is nothing holding the cup in other then crazy suction from the grease.

[Gecks]

You mention you installed the busihing at the same time. Do you have any instructions to do that or is that something that Kartboy covers?

[RallySportDirect]

We did not do a write up on it. But its actually the same install as the previous years.

[supermarkus]

be careful when inserting the c-clip back into the cup, if you do not get the rubber o-rings in place properly, dropping the c-clip back into place can shear the ring. I busted the top ring on my 05 shifter cup and now it is really rubbery despite having the full TiC/Kartboy workup. Especially in gears 3 and 4.

[Subie 2.5 STI]

sweet write up. great pics

[UberWagon]

Just followed these for my own install...great write up!

[cky3396]

KB f/r bushings + short shifter install experience.. 2008 sti

for my install experience.. thanks for the write up